Congo Travel Information

The Basics

Time

Electricity

Electrical outlets in the Congo usually supply electricity at between 220-240 volts, 50/60Hz. European two-pin plugs with round or flat pins are standard.

Language

The official language is French. Lingala and Kituba are widely spoken.

Travel Health

Malaria is prevalent in the Congo and a prophylaxis with Lariam,
Malarone or doxycycline is recommended for all areas. A yellow
fever vaccination is required for all travellers to the Congo over
one year of age. Vaccinations are also recommended for hepatitis A,
hepatitis B and typhoid. Visitors should also ensure that they are
up to date on their vaccinations for polio, MMR (measles, mumps,
rubella) and tetanus-diphtheria. Those who plan on spending a lot
of time outdoors and will be at risk of animal bites should
consider a rabies vaccination. HIV Aids is common in the Congo and
visitors should be sure not to engage in unprotected sex.

According to official sources, there have been reported
incidents of packs of rabid dogs in Pointe Noire. Necessary
precautions in the area are thus encouraged. Furthermore, since the
outbreak of the Ebola virus in recent years, all visitors to the
country are advised to abstain from consuming bush meat, as it is
though to be responsible for the disease.

Medical facilities are extremely limited throughout the country,
particularly in rural areas. Many medicines are in short supply and
travellers should bring their own supplies of medications they
require, in their original packaging, and with a dated and signed
letter from a doctor detailing what the medication is and why it is
required. Visitors should not drink tap water unless it has been
filtered, chemically treated or boiled. Visitors should ensure that
they have comprehensive travel insurance as any serious injury or
illness is likely to require medical evacuation.

Tipping

Small tips are appreciated and often expected in the Republic of
the Congo. Generally restaurants don't add a service charge so a
tip of about 10 percent is welcomed by waitors.

Safety Information

Although the Republic of Congo is still recovering from civil
war, there have been far fewer serious episodes of conflict or
violence since the 2003 peace accord. Nevertheless, most travel
authorities, including the US Department of State and the British
Foreign and Commonwealth Office, advise against travel to certain
regions of the country. Brazzaville saw violent clashes as recently
as April 2016, and tourists visiting the city are advised to
mantain a high level of security awareness, abstain from night time
travel and avoid all political protests. Travellers should avoid
all travel to the Likouala province, which has been flooded by
refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and all but
essential travel should be avoided to the Pool region, south of
Brazzaville.

Care should be taken on the road between Brazzaville and Pointe
Noire, which has a history of roadblocks and robberies. The train
route between these two cities is generally safer, although caution
is still advised. Visitors should stay well-informed of any
disruptions or unrest in the country, and in the neighbouring DRC,
as violence sometimes spills over the border. Petty crime is common
in the Republic of Congo and there have been incidents of violent
crime against tourists. Armed robberies, vehicle break-ins and
muggings are unfortunately quite common, especially near ports,
outside popular restaurants and bars, and on the beaches, which
should be avoided completely at night. Travellers should stay alert
and take all precautions possible against crime.

Local Customs

There are a variety of customs and cultures in the Congo as many
communities have their own traditions and beliefs. Casual clothing
is acceptable; however, keep in mind that the Congolese take great
pride in their appearance, and an overly casual appearance may be
frowned on. Photographing military, government, and banking
buildings is prohibited.

Business

The Republic of Congo is one of the lowest-ranked countries in
the world for ease of doing business due to the country's history
of poverty, conflict and corruption, but the Congolese people are
renowned for their friendliness and are generally very welcoming of
foreigners.

Forestry is a large part of the economy of the DRC, with roughly
60 percent of the country covered in tropical rainforest. Other
potential cash crops include sugar, palm oil, coffee, and cocoa;
other exports include sawn timber, petroleum, and diamonds.

Business practices are fairly formal; however, due to the hot
climate, suits are often worn only when meeting with government
officials. The society is patriarchal and women should generally
avoid wearing trousers to business meetings. Handshakes are the
acceptable mode of greeting. Office hours are generally from 8am to
12pm and 2pm to 3pm from Monday to Friday, and 8am to 12pm on
Saturday. One of the main obstacles to doing business in the Congo
is the lack of high-quality communications infrastructure, making
it difficult at times to get a good phone line, or high-speed
internet connection.

Communications

Landline telephone penetration is low in the Republic of Congo
and landlines are often out of order due to extremely limited and
poorly maintained telecommunications infrastructure. Cellular phone
usage has increased hugely over the last few years. There are
numerous internet cafes in Brazzaville and Pointe Noire and a
number of hotels and restaurants offer free wireless internet
access. The international access code for the Republic of Congo is
242. The area code for Brazzaville is 28, and Pointe Noire 29.

Duty Free

Visitors to Congo do not need to pay import tax on one bottle of
spirits and one bottle of wine and an amount of perfume reasonable
for personal use. Men may import up to 200 cigarettes/50
cigars/227g of tobacco, while women may only bring cigarettes.
Cameras may be temporarily imported by tourists, however radios,
audio equipment and gifts are subject to import tax.

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